Thank-you for reading this story. I would appreciate it if you leave me a comment.
I would like to thank my editor Nchlada for reading my story and suggesting better wordings when necessary.
I owe a special thanks to Dr_Dick of this Lit site for the erotic conversations and role play we have had. ;)
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It was 4am when Zach parked his car on the curb of "Le Petit Nicholas" (The little Nicholas) pastry shop.
Before knocking on the door of the small establishment Zach texted Erick:
I had the best night EVER; I hope it hasn't made things too weird between you and Arielle. She is a beautiful woman, I really hope both of you can withstand all of this now that it is out in the open.
He wanted to end the text with an 'I love you man', but decided to erase the digital characters instead and replaced it with an Erick in brackets signifying a virtual hug:
(((Erick)))
"
Salut
Zacharie,
tu tombes bien
," Said Nicholas (Hello Zacharie, you have great timing)
"
Tu as ce visage que tu fais d'habitude quand
...," (You have the face you make when...) OK, talk to me," Said Nicholas.
"Why would you think something is wrong with me, Nick?"
"Well, it's 4am, you show up in my quaint, yet delicious, pastry shop," Nick said while throwing himself flowers.
"Usually, you are either drunk, not the case this time... Heartbroken?"
Scrutinizing his face Nick adds, "I don't think so. Bored with the screw you had last night perhaps?" Nick said inquisitively, "is that why you left her or him for me? Ah... my baby came home!" Nick said while winking at his friend and proudly slapping his buddy's arse as Zach was rolling his eyes.
Their friendship and closeness allowed him to add this reflection, "But, in all seriousness, and, judging from the frown you have, that you should totally Botox, by the way, on your forehead," Nicholas said softly except for the snarky Botox comment, "I don't think so. You have a new game face on; I have not quite ever seen that one."
"Before continuing any further Zach, you know the rule!"
"Yes Nick," Zach answered mechanically, "I know the rule, if I show up I can talk all I want but I need to work at the same time!"
"Good boy Zacharias, here is an apron for you," Zach laughed at his friend as he slapped on the tool of the trade. Zach knew exactly what to do in Nicholas's kitchen. He and Nick had been friends for more than 30 years.
Zach first stumbled into his pastry shop one early morning after a rave in the 80s. He had not slept yet and was completely hung over and dehydrated from the night's lascivious dancing he just had. At the time, in his early 20s, and, from Nicholas's flaming gay's standpoint, he just looked like a delicious cookie who needed a little bit of attention, but mostly, lots and lots of coffee. He was so cute with his jet black curly hair and blue green eyes, Nick took pity on him immediately and offered him some of his magical black elixir and croissant.
That day, this kid ended up being Nick's savior as his waitress never bothered showing up to what turned out to be a very busy day. Zach volunteered his services, even if he knew nothing of what he was doing. Luckily for Nick, Zach was a quick learner. He had the cash figured out in no time and was able to punch in the orders quickly enough so that there would be almost no line up. Nick hired him at the end of the day, a job he would keep throughout his studies. In Zach's mind, he never really left as Nick would still call him to help out once or twice a week. Zach thought this was strange as Nick always had everything figured out and under control. Eventually, Zach figured out he was there because Nick hated being alone or needed someone close to talk to.
Together, they had navigated each other thru the many one night stands, their dating, their breakups, the marriages of friends and even the deaths of family members. In fact, Zach was often the stand-in date for Nick's at family functions. This never bothered Zach, he just played the game.
The preparation for these family functions was always hilarious. An hour or so before the event Nick would sit Zach down and remind him who was getting married to whom, who had kids, who got divorced and any big family event that could come up in casual conversation like when little Micha got accepted to law school. Nick was a gossip queen, a title he actually enjoyed. To most people, they were just, Nick and Zach.
Nick was a master pastry chef who learned his craft in Paris at the school "
École Lenôtre
" and later earned his stripes in that same city and in New York. At 30, it was time for him to come home where he opened "Le Petit Nicholas".
Spending so much time in the kitchen baking had tainted his vocabulary. When someone was nuts according to him, he would say, "This guy's recipe is missing an egg." When a girl was pretty he would tell Zach, "Look at that little apricot." Apricot, because according to Nick's limited experience with the female genitals, dried apricots looked like vaginas. He was not entirely wrong on that one, Zach always thought.
"You are quiet again Zach. What's the matter, lost in your thoughts?"
"No, just listening to Madonna in the background."
"Don't you find it ironic that song in particular is playing? So, tell me Zach, what has you pushing over the Borderline?"
Zach went on explaining in great detail, the only way to tell a story according to Nick, the events that transpired the night before. When he got to the part where Arielle showed up, Nick just screamed, "Holy
Macaron
! Did she bitch slap you silly?"
"Eh...no Nick, she did not bitch slap me," Zach replied, then comically added, "I probably would have enjoyed that!" and stuck his tongue out at Nick.
"And then, go on, don't keep me hanging!"
One thing about Zach, he knew how to tell a story to Nick in a way that would have him yearning for the next line. He spoke softly at the tender parts of the story and build up the crescendo until he reached the climax when all 3 of them collapse on the bed. He even recounted the small bedside pillow talk all 3 of them had.
"And you just left?" Nick asked.
"Yeah, I just left, you know how it is with couples after intense moments, they need to reconnect and either savour the night or hate each other for it in the morning."
"I don't know Zach, it seems to me that you may be overplaying this. Your fuck buddy Erick, he is a doctor right?"
"Oh God, Nick, stop calling him a fuck buddy,"
"What would you like me to call him? Your special friend?"
"That is like worst, dude"
"Friend with benefits?"
"Get to the point Nick!"
With a coy smile at Zach, Nick said, "Ok, your friend Erick, with the big dick." Zach was moving his head left and right that had Nick laughing again like a jolly queen with her hands in the air. After a few minutes Nick recomposed himself and reprised with a more serious tone this time, "Erick is a doctor right?"
"Right."
"Don't you think he would have the brains to pick a smart girl?"
That last line had Zach thinking. What his friend was saying was absolutely correct. Erick was a smart, intelligent person, naturally, he would assemble himself with someone that would resemble him. Someone with shared his values, and perhaps someone who found pleasure in a threesome or a swinging kind of relationship. After all, she didn't just bolt out last night, she stayed and she seemed to really have enjoyed herself.
At that moment, Zach's phone beeped and a text appeared.
Hey you
"Who could be texting you at 6am?" Nick asked Zach
"I really don't know, that number is not in my contacts" Before Zach had time to say anything else, another text appeared.
It's Arielle
